🚀 go-pugleaf

                            THE BLIND NEWS DIGEST

                                 Issue # 969

                          Wednesday, June 30, 1993

Today's Topics:


                                ******


                          NATIONAL STUDENT/DISAB. C
                              Science products
                            Where's the romance?
                                    Toby
            Re: ADVICE NEEDED ON HARDWARE & SALES TO BLIND PEOPLE
                            Braille code changes
                            Re: GUIDE DOG PROBLEM
                            Re: GUIDE DOG PROBLEM
                                 re: New Dog
                                 Re: readit


                                ******


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Subject: NATIONAL STUDENT/DISAB. C
From: Gordon.Gillesby@f1007.n282.z1.fidonet.org (Gordon Gillesby)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:282/1007 - DRAGnet, Andover MN


                          DISABLED and PROUD:
  1993 National Gathering of College Student Leaders with Disabilities

             Theme: To Advance a New Generation of Leaders

                           August 13-15, 1993
                        Radisson Hotel Metrodome
                 University of Minnesota (Minneapolis)

   Featured Speakers:

      Carol Gill, Ph.D., President and Director of Psychological
Research, Chicago Institute of Disability Research, Willowbrook, IL.

      Paul K. Longmore, Ph.D., Assistant Professorof History, San
Francisco State University, San Francisco, California (satellite
presentation).

   Forums and discussions:

      *  History of People with Disabilities
      *  Cultural Context of Disability
      *  Personal Indentities
      *  Political Activism
      *  Organization of a National Student Group
      *  Organizing Your Campus.

   Participation across disabilities and by students with disabilities
from communities of color and from gay and lesbian communities is
encouragned.  If you and/or your organization want more information
about plans and registration details for this conference or to in the
need for journal materials in an alternative format (Braille, Large
Print, Audio Tape) please contact:

                   Disabled and Proud Student Leaders
          c/o Professional Development and Conference Services
                        University of Minnesota
                            210 Nolte Center
                        315 Pillsbury Drive S.E.
                       Minneapolis, MN 55455-0139
                          612-625-1520 (voice)
                     612-297-5353 (MN TDD Network)

                      Please help spread the word!

                                - glg -

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!282!1007!Gordon.Gillesby
Internet: Gordon.Gillesby@f1007.n282.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Science products
From: Irwin.Hott@f120.n226.z1.fidonet.org (Irwin Hott)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:226/120 - Colossus, Worthington OH


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Does anyone know if Science Products is still around? I am in the
market for an audible VU meter.  I would prefer something similar
to  their model that could  switch from left to  right channel and
could range from 0 to plus 8 on the input side. Any  information,
or  any  used  meters,  for  that  matter, would be appreciated.

___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12

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Internet: Irwin.Hott@f120.n226.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Where's the romance?
From: Henry.Kasten@f2120.n124.z1.fidonet.org (Henry Kasten)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:124/2120 - Fingers Talk, Irving TX


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

So you do not know why more blind people are working?  I only know a handful
of blind people.  Most of them have some type of job.  Those that do not want
to work, don't.
I know, i know, many of us are highly qualified and still can not get a job.
I wonder though, are we qualified in the right areas?  Are we willing to make
sacrifices to get a job?  So many times when I have talked with unemployed
people with disabilities, they are indeed qualified.  But, not in a field
that has a need.  To many times I have heard, "I don't want to move," or "I
won't be able to find a ride way out there.".  I know before I lost my
eyesight I changed jobs several times.  Some of those times were not by
choice.  However, it is not easy to find a job with or with out a disability.
Maybe I am lucky or maybe I am unusually flexible.  But, I have always been
able to set a date in which I would have a job and I have always made that
date.
I also want you  to know that in those times that I changed jobs I also made
career changes.  I have been a Biochemist, a Science teacher, a surveyor, a
Civil and structural Engineer, a Project Engineer and am currently a Project
Manager for Engineering Design.  For What it is worth I have an interview
tomorrow for a new job.  There is one position and 10 of us made the cut for
interviews.  My job tomorrow will be to sell myself to my future boss.  If by
chance I do not get the position, I can only say it is because I did not sell
myself well enough, not because I am blind.
HK

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!124!2120!Henry.Kasten
Internet: Henry.Kasten@f2120.n124.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Toby
From: Henry.Kasten@f2120.n124.z1.fidonet.org (Henry Kasten)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:124/2120 - Fingers Talk, Irving TX


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Hi,
It has been awhile!
Sorry to hear about your problems with Toby.  Have you tried changing food?
If for example you are using a chicken based product such as Proplan you
might try another chicken based product like Purina One.  I would try that
type of food before changing to a corn meal or meat based product.  of course
the same holds true if you are currently using corn meal or meat.  Stick with
the same base at first .  You know to do this gradually over about a week.
And once you have converted and do not see any change in a reasonable amount
of time try some other brand.  Also some people have had success using a
product called Linatone.  It is a vitamin and amino acid supplement that most
dogs enjoy.  Many pet stores or feed stores carry it.  Check the prices.  For
most dogs it is a good nutritional supplement and even if it does not stop
his flaking, it will probably be good for Toby and he will like the taste.
Also, be wary of adding oils to his fur.  some might recommend diluting Alpha
Kerri lotion or other skin products.  These will definitely make Toby smell
good and will add oil to his fur.  They will also pick up all sorts of
airborne stuff which might add to his skin irritation.  You will also have to
bathe hem bore often which will also add to his skin problems.  I suggest the
systemic path first.
Unfortunately, you can not be at Toby's side 24 hours a day.  That is the
only way you can stop him from biting himself and irritating the hot spots.
I guess you know that rubbing alcohol is about the cheapest method of
helping.  That and constant diligence in stopping Toby from biting and
scratching.
Good Luck!
HK

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!124!2120!Henry.Kasten
Internet: Henry.Kasten@f2120.n124.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Re: ADVICE NEEDED ON HARDWARE & SALES TO BLIND PEOPLE
From: Isaac.Obie@f625.n101.z1.fidonet.org (Isaac Obie)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:101/625 - Five Point BBS, Boston MA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Hi Bob,

The American Foundation hs listings of every   blind orgniztion in
the country for a modest fee. It my also contain many in the
world.

As far as computer groups, in each state there may be an
organization. For instance, in Boston, there's the visually
impaired and blind users group (Vibug). I doubt that those are
listed. You may have to ask for individuals from each state or
major city to let you know.

Onuper BGA monitors, they look nice. Software is easier to run and
execute with it. It's modern. The priceifferential isn't that great
any more. For instance, I can get a vga monitor for $170  and I
can't even find mono monitors any more. If I do find them I can get
them for $100. I'd rather pay the extra $100 and it gives my system
added resale value should I want to upgrade later.

On the speech cards, Dectalk is supposedly the best. Audaptorrom
Noel Runyan is the most sophisticatedrom what I hear. Soundboard is
low end, but gives fairly good sound. Accent is good midrange card.
That's my opinion. I don't use these cards though, but that's what
I gathered from reading this echo over the years. Hope this helps.
I tried to answer because sometimes it may take a while before you
get an answer. I too build computers although not as much as you
maybe cause I just don't have the money. It took me three months to
sell three with vga and 125MB hard drives and 386/40 motherboards.
People didn't want to pay! Hope you found this helpful.

Isaac

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!101!625!Isaac.Obie
Internet: Isaac.Obie@f625.n101.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Braille code changes
From: Walt.Cone@f145.n138.z1.fidonet.org (Walt Cone)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:138/145 - The Cats' Paws, Tacoma WA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Hi George:

     You asked in your message what you can do to stop the proposed
changes.  I say proposed changes because they are far from finnal.
There will undoubtedly be hundreds of meetings, tens of siminars,
and tens of workshops to decide if theese changes are feasible.  (a
little bit of beaurocrat lingo there.

     You may also want to write:  American Printing House For The
Blind.
      1839 Frankfort Av.
    Louisevielle Kentucky.

     You may also want to write to the American Foundation For the
Blind.  I don't have there address at hand but it is easy to get.

     Both organizations of the blind the NFB, and the ACB have both
worked vary hard to insure unbeccesary changes.  Other groups have
been involved to.. Blinded veterans Et,.

     well that is my 2 cents.  Take care:
Walt
___
 X MegaMail 2.10 #0:

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Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!138!145!Walt.Cone
Internet: Walt.Cone@f145.n138.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Re: GUIDE DOG PROBLEM
From: Carla.Campbell@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Carla Campbell)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/89 - BlinkLink, Pittsburgh PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Hiya.

DL> My mothers guide dog Psalm is a yellow
 DL> lab (almost white in color) and her problem is that her collar
 DL> and harness turn her hair grey.  If you come up with a solution
 DL> to that let me know.

I don't have a sure-fire solution, but some suggestions (which your
mother might already have tried.)  The grayness of the coat under the
dog's equipment may be the result of dust or dirt rubbing off from the
collar and harness.  I know metal collars sometimes cause discoloration
of skin and fur, due to the reaction of the metal with different oils in
the dog's coat and skin, but if the grayness is also beneath the leather
of the harness, it is more likely to be dust collecting beneath them and
rubbing into Psalm's light coat.  In areas with a lot of dust or smog,
such discoloration is common and it is difficult to tell (even for
people who can see it) that there is a thin film of dust or "grunge" on
metal or leather.

Has she tried washing the collar in a very mild dish soap and water
mixture from time to time?  Naturally, she should be sure to rinse it off
well to get all the soap off so that won't cause Psalm  any itching or
irritation, and to dry the collar thoroughly to make sure it does not
rust.

I don't know what school her dog is from.  Some schools (San Rafael,
Leader and others) recommend against cleaning the dog's equipment with
saddle soap, while others suggest it.  I presume the difference is that
the schools use different sorts of leather in making their harnesses.
If your mother's school suggests she not use saddle soap on her harness,
she might also try the dilute dish soap and water solution on a wash
cloth, damp sponge  or rag to clean out the inside of the harness from
time to time. If her dog is from the Seeing Eye or another school which
recommends the regular use of saddle soap, that might help keep the dust
and dirt residue off the inside of the straps.  Again, be sure to follow
any use of soap with clean water and to dry the leather thoroughly with
a soft towel or rag to keep it from getting stiff or sticky.

If she has already tried these techniques, I don't know what else to
suggest.  She might try checking with local breeders of lighter breeds
such as West Highland Terriers or some of the Alaskan dogs.  Perhaps
those who show their dogs could help suggest ways of keeping the coats
from staining where they contact leather and metal collars.

Hope some of this is useful. If not, my apologies!

Good luck!

                                                 --Carla

... Read what I mean, not what I write!

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!89!Carla.Campbell
Internet: Carla.Campbell@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Re: GUIDE DOG PROBLEM
From: Carla.Campbell@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Carla Campbell)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/89.0 - BlinkLink, Pittsburgh PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 V> I know, I know, it's been a million years since I have posted

At *least*. Hi there.  Good to see your user ID again.

 V> I have been having some terrible problems trying to control dry
 V> skin and excesive dandruff on my Guide Dog Toby.

I probably can't tell you anything you haven't already heard from your
vet or figured out, yourself.  But as a fellow Golden Retriever owner, I
can certainly sympathize.

Chance, der first beast, had some dandruff problems early on in his
working career, probably associated with his flea allergy.  I got lucky,
and these were resolved with a diet change and over-frequent baths (in
spite of all the recommendations against frequent bathing, I might
add...)

Max, the new critter,  also has itchy skin and his coat is not what it
was when I first met him and he was wearing his winter attire.  Probably
never will be, out here in the warmer climate...  He has a milder
problem with fleas, but has some other skin problems of a different
sort.    His skin is somewhat better, though, and his coat is gradually
improving as a result of several measures I'm taking.

First, I did switch foods every eight weeks or so until I found a good
one for him.  (They now say that the old 3-week test is simply not long
enough to tell if a dog has a food allergy, and that 8-10 weeks is more
reliable).  Turns out Max has a slight allergy to both wheat and corn,
as best I can tell.  Keeping him on a strictly lamb and rice diet  seems
to help.  (We're using a food called "Lamaderm" which has neither wheat
nor corn), and even feeding him only biscuits made without wheat and
corn (a little hard to find-- I finally wound up getting them from a
company in New York state named "Wow-Bow", of all things.)  One reason
my vet and I suspected a food allergy is that, in addition to skin and
coat problems, Max tended to have loose stool.  This is apparently a
common combination of symptoms associated with food allergies and
distinguishes them from exema or flea allergies.

The method I used-- just trying different foods with different
ingredients-- is sort of hit and miss.  I just got lucky and hit on a
food which seems to help.  To do a really thurough test for a food
allergy, I would have to have prepared his food, myself-- cooking up
rice and meat for him for 8-10 weeks.  While wheat, corn and soy are
common causes of skin allergies, food addatives, preservatives and even
things like beet pulp (used in many foods)  can cause itchy skin in some
allergic dogs.

To fully eliminate these and test for a food allergy, you'd have to cook
up Toby's food, yourself for a while, boiling lamb meat or lean poultry
and mixing it one-to-one with boiled rice.  You would want to eliminate
*everything* else from his diet-- biscuits, chewable vitamins, coat
conditioners, etc.  If he seemed better after 8-10 weeks of eating
*nothing* but lamb (or chicken) and rice, you wouldd want to start by a
week of his old food to see if he still reacted to it.    If he did, you
would revert to the home-cooked food and start adding in the possible
suspect addatives one by one.  (no one has ever told me, to my
satisfaction, how one is supposed to add in things like the
preservatives used by dog food manufacturers, but hopefully it might
prove to be something else on the list and you'd hit on that, first!) In
this way, theoretically, you would be able to find the actual componant
of the food to which he might be allergic. then you could go about
finding a commercial food which does not contain that substance.

It's a lot of pain, but if it even looks like Toby might have a food
allergy, it might be worth a try.  It realy *is* more effective than the
"hit and miss" technique of trying different brands of commercial food
and hoping to find one which works.  Once you do find that thing (or
things) to which he's allergic and locate a food which does not contain
them, you'll definitely be set-- if it *is* a food allergy at the root
of his itching and dandruff.

Another cause of dandruff and itching can be dry heat.  I don't know if
you have a heater in your house/apartment, but if so, and you've been
using the heat in the past few months, like most of us have, Toby's skin
may be reacting to that dry heat.  If you haven't already done so, be
sure he is not sleeping or resting too near to the heater.  This, alone,
may help.  Adding oil to his diet and using something like Skin So Soft
or one of the Nature's Miracle products on his coat might help, too.

Obviously, trying to get rid of any fleas in your home is an absolute
must.  If you feel like spending the money,  and have wall-to-wall
carpeting, a company called Flea Busters does a wonderful job.  They use
a Borax-like substance  (to which few people or animals are even
slightly allergic) and pound it down into the carpet.  It can't be seen
or felt, but keeps working.  They garauntee their work for a year and
it's a lot less messy and troublesome than chemical sprays and bombs,
and won't set off anyone's chemical allergies and asma reactions the way
bombs and sprays might.  Putting moth balls in the old vaccuum  cleaner
bag doesn't hurt, either. (you can use a flea coller in the bag, as
well, but that may just send the fleas elsewhere, rather than killing
them.)

Be aware, if you aren't, already, that many flea sprays contain alcohol.
The alcohol may dry out the hair and skin.  You might want to look for a
flea spray which does not contain alcohol and see if that helps. Zodiac
makes  one now which is supposed to bemore effective than their old line
of organic sprays.  I have found that it still leaves a sticky residue
like the alcohol sprays do, but at least it does not contain alcohol and
so probably does not dry out the dog's skin and fur as much as some
other sprays do.  There may be others which work as well or better.
Look around or ask your vet or favorite pet supply store.

Another approach, of course, is just to treat the symptoms-- to try
adding things to Toby's diet to take care of the dry skin, without
rooting out the cause.  My vet has Max on DermCaps-- vitamin E (and
other ingrediants) capsules that feel like bath jell balls.  There are
other such products also available through your vet.  If you've not
already tried them, you might check it out.  I add a coat conditioner
called Lipoderm (available at pet stores) to Max's food. It is oily and
smells awful, but seems to help.  There are other conditioners which
might help, as well.

This combination of things keeps us relatively itch-free until we have a
bad round of fleas.  (I can't get Flea Busters in, alas, since we have
hardwoods...) Then I just spray for all I'm worth.  But the basic dry
skin problem seems to have been resolved by attacking the food allergy,
and treating the symptoms with DermCaps and the coat conditioner.

This is a tough problem to resolve.  It's one of those tricky medical
issues-- the kind which don't inhibit a dog's ability to work and would,
naturally, not be a reason to retire a critter, but which are persistant
and  time and money-consuming.

If you try anything else, or get any suggestions as to other things to
try, please do share them with the rest of us with itchy dogs.  While
we're doing a lot better, I still spend more time than I want to saying
"No, Max! don't scratch!"

Good luck!
                                                   --Carla

... Read what I mean, not what I write!

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!89.0!Carla.Campbell
Internet: Carla.Campbell@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: re: New Dog
From: Carla.Campbell@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Carla Campbell)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/89.0 - BlinkLink, Pittsburgh PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

(continued from previous message)

DP> About the only problem I have
DP> is with her "Parking"--reguardless of how regular I keep her, she will,
DP> in all likelihood need to do a "2" about 10 bloks or more into a trip,
DP> even though she had had every opertunity to do so before going out.

We're battling that particular problem, too.  I would be less concerned
if Maxwell at least pulled over to the curb before depositing his little
surprise gifts.  As it is, he is so subtle about his actions (or should
I say "movements"?)  that one minute we're walking along and the next,
seemingly mid-stride, he is in the middle of an "unscheduled park time."
Like you, I give him plenty of time to empty before we leave, but he
seems to need that bit of exercise to "work things out." <sigh>

One of the hardest things about this particular problem is that opinions
amongst the experts even seem to differ.  Used to be, the wisdom said to
correct a dog severely for emptying in harness, hauling them off to an
appropriate place with a good, sincere "pfui!"  NOwadays, I hear some
folks saying that it does no good to correct the dog, but that, instead,
we're supposed to move them to an appropriate place and praise them for
emptying there, trying to associate a key word like "park" with the
"right" place.  So far, I haven't had much luck with either technique, I
must admit.

It sometimes helps to exercise them a little bit by playing with them
before taking them out to park.  This is often easier said than done,
though-- especially if you've no yard and not enough spare time.  And if
you let them exercise off-leash in an enclosed yard, it is difficult to
clean up and you've still no idea what has been done.  It's sort of
catch-22.

But I've at least gotten so far as to have Max understand that it's
wrong to empty in harness, I think.  He demonstrated his new
understanding of this basic principle of good manners to me today.  I
had an appointment this morning.  I took The Max out for his usual
morning park time, during which he traditionally declined to partake.  I
harnessed him up and we set off.  He showed no signs of distress
throughout our trip, aside from a bit of excess heavy breathing (hard to
distinguish from his normal, tongue-lolling alertness) and tail-wagging
in the cab on the way home (he has a "placating"wag which he seems to
employ at times when he would like to request, humbly, that I not "beat
him," please.  It is sort of disgusting and overly obsequious, but it
grows on you...)  I am only just learning to read his moods.  So I had
no idea he was in a hurry.  We got home and he marched up to the door,
led me inside and waited, attentively, while I removed his harness.  He
then strolled deliberately to the back door and, before I could even get
there to take him out, delivered a prize-winning "two" right there on
the door mat. <sigh>  So I guess he has now grasped  the "don't go in
harness" bit. Next I'll work on the bit where he has to wait for me to
take him out before declaring it park time, I suppose... and you can bet
I won't be taking his harness off in public any time soon for *any*
reason! ;-)

<ahem> Where else could one ramble on for several screens on the topic
of canine toilet habits? Ain't Blink Talk amazing? ;-)  Apologies to
those less interested in these matters!

DP> Well, sorry for the intrusion,

No intrusion at all.  Thanks for the message.  Keep 'em coming!

Cheers,

                                                 --Carla

... Read what I mean, not what I write!

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!89.0!Carla.Campbell
Internet: Carla.Campbell@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Re: readit
From: David.Justice@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (David Justice)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/89.0 - BlinkLink, Pittsburgh PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 -=> Quoting Ann Parsons to David Justice <=-

 AP> Could you please tell me more about Readit?  I have been futzing
 AP> around with List, but it is so complicated!  Is readit user friendly?
 AP> Sorry, I missed this thread when I saw it some time ago, as I didn't
 AP> need a text reader file, but now that I am reading books from Spectrum
 AP> Press and others, I want a good file reader.  Thanks in advance.

 Hi, Ann.  Thank you for your enquiry.

 ReadIt was written to be easy to use by both sighted and blind persons.  One
 of the goals was to write ReadIt in such a way that it's blind users spend
 less time configuring their speech, and more time using the program.
 However, how well this was done, and whether or not ReadIt is
 "user-friendly", is a matter of subjective opinion.  And in this case, my
 opinion is, of course, biased in favor of ReadIt.

 Some of ReadIt's features are:
    -   Reads large files.
    -   has smart wrap feature to break long lines between words.
    -   Auto-scroll mode so user can read "hands free".
    -   bookmarks which can be saved when you leave the file so that you can
        later return to where you left off.
    -   support for reading compressed files.  User supplies the compression
        utilities.  Supports ARC, ARJ, LZH, PAK, ZIP, and ZOO type compressed
        files.

 And, of course, you can search files.  ReadIt has the simple forward and
 backward, case sensitive and non-case sensitive searching features, and adds
 multiple file searching, words only searching, and an "OR" search.

 So as not to turn this message into a full-length commercial, I've only
 mentioned a few of ReadIt's features. The best way for you to decide if
 ReadIt is right for you, Ann, is to download it from your local BBS or from
 BlinkLink.  The best version for you to try is 3.03. this is the
 latest version, and support for ARJ and LZH files has been improved. I
 think that Spectrum Press uses the LZH file format for their books.  By the
 time you read this, READ303.ZIP should have been uploaded to BlinkLink.

 If you have any other questions, either before or after you've had a chance
 to look at ReadIt, let me know, Ann, and I'll do my best to answer them.

     Dave

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Internet: David.Justice@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org




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                 End of Issue # 969 of the Blind News Digest

                                ******